HC Deb 22 June 1931 vol 254 cc48-9W
Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLE

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the fall in value of imports into the United Kingdom from Soviet Russia during the early months of 1931 represents a fall in volume, or whether it is accounted for by a lower level of declared values?

Mr. W. R. SMITH

There was an increase in the value of imports from the Soviet Union during the first four months of this year as compared with the corresponding period of 1930, but a decline as compared with the last four months of 1930, and it is to this decline that the hon. Member's question presumably relates. While all the principal commodities imported from the Soviet Union show a fall in average values, the main cause of the decline is a seasonal and heavy fall in the quantities of some of the principal commodities imported. Among these may be mentioned wheat, timber, and butter, which together account for over 70 per cent. of the total fall in value of £10,299,000.

Duchess of ATHOLL

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he can give any information as to the prices at which, oil, furs, matches, textiles, soap, boots, shoes, goloshes, wheat-flour, oat-flour, barley-meal, butter, eggs, raspberries, and any other foodstuffs are being sold in Russia, both at controlled prices and at uncontrolled ones?

Mr. GILLETT

Information as to prices charged for several kinds of foodstuffs in the Soviet Union is contained in the answer which I returned on 26th January last to the right hon. Member for Ealing (Sir H. Nield), of which I am sending the Noble Lady a copy. I have no information regarding the prices of the other goods mentioned by the Noble Lady.

Duchess of ATHOLL

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the value of the credits extended for trade with Russia under the Export Credits Scheme, to the last date for which figures are available?

Mr. GILLETT

Up to 13th June, 1931, the Export Credits Guarantee Department had entered into contracts with British exporters covering credits totalling £7,649,424 in respect of exports to Russia.